Valve



Oct. 2, 1956 c. A. BEST 2,765,143

VALVE Filed Aug. 14, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. I QAEE'NCI' A; 6

'Wzina ATTOFA/IE'EI Oct. 2, 1956 c. A. BEST 2,755,143

VALVE Filed Aug. 14, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 AZ'Z'dFA ZV.

United States Patent VALVE Clarence A. Best, Floyds Knobs, Ind.

Application August 14, 1951, Serial No. 241,744

3 Claims. (Cl. 251-268) The present invention relates to a valve, and is primarily directed to the provision of novel valve structure of such character that, through the provision of one or two forms of simple valve casing construction, together with a plurality of forms of inserts for selective use in such casing elements, several different forms of valves may be available.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a novel and simple casing construction with which may be selectively assembled any one of a plurality of seat-providing plugs and the corresponding one of a plurality of valve head assemblies, 21 common form of bonnet or closure being provided for use with any one of said valve head assemblies. A further object of the invention is to provide improved baflie means, comprising cooperating parts on the casing and on the valve head assembly, for establishing suitable liquid seals therebetween. A further object of the invention is to provide novel structural means for operating a valve head assembly of the character disclosed herein, Still further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention may be embodied in the forms illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that change may be made in the specific constructions illustrated and described, so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated.

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a valve constructed in accordance with my invention, showing a preferred form of casing and bonnet structure with which are as sembled one selected form of seating element and a corresponding form of valve head assembly;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section showing slightly modified casing and bonnet forms with which is associated a novel actuating mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the form of invention illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of seating element and a corresponding form of valve head for use therein;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a modified form of gate valve assembly; and

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the manner in which a modified plug form may be associated with the casing form of Fig. 5 to produce a globe or compression valve assembly.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to Fig. 1 thereof, it will be seen that I have illustrated a casing 10 which is formed to provide a chamber 11 open at its opposite ends 12 and 13 and provided, near its end 12, with inlet and outlet ports 14 and 15 disposed in a common plane transaxial with respect to the chamber 11. It will be clearly seen that the chamber 11 is unobstructed between the ports 14 and 15.

A radially-inward annular projection 16 is formed in the casing adjacent the chamber end 13, said projection 2,765,143 Patented Oct. 2, 1956 ice defining a restricted portion 17 of the chamber 11. An annular, axially-projecting n'b 18 is formed upon that surface of the projection 16 nearer the chamber end 13 for a purpose which will appear hereinafter.

In the form of invention illustrated in Fig. 1, that portion of the chamber 11 below the projection 16 is internally threaded for the reception of the body of a plug 19, said plug body being correspondingly externally threaded. The plug is proportioned and designed that, when it is turned home in the chamber 11, a flange on its outer end will sealingly abut the lower end of the casing 10, while the upper end of the plug body will abut the lower face of the projection 16. The plug 19 is formed with a transaxial passage 20 therethrough which, when the plug is fully seated, will register with the ports 14 and 15; but said passage 20 is intersected by a socket or valve seat 21 coaxial with the chamber 11 and, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, conically tapered toward the lower end of the plug 19. As shown, the valve seat 21 is closed at its lower end and, at its upper end, opens into a cavity 22 wihch is provided with one or more axially-extending grooves 23.

A valve head unit 24 comprises a head proper 25 which is conically tapered to conform to the seat 21 and which is adapted to be shifted into and away from its illustrated position in which said head closes the passage 20. A flange or enlargement 26 immediately above the head 25 is reciprocably mounted in the cavity 22 and is provided with one or more cars 27 slidably received in the groove or grooves 23 to restrain the valve head against rotation upon its own axis. A reduced, externally threaded stem 28 projects upwardly from the flange 26, the axial extent of said stem substantially exceeding the axial extent of the cavity 22.

A stem element 29 includes a shank 30 which is snugly received in the restricted portion 17 of the chamber 11, and a flange portion 31 which overlies the upper surface of the projection 16 and which is formed with an annular groove 32 snugly receiving the rib '18. The stem shank 30 is provided with an axial cavity 33 internally threaded as at 34 for the threaded reception of the stem 28. The flange 31 is further provided on its upper surface with an annular rib 35 for a purpose which will appear hereinafter; and an actuating stem 36 projects axially upwardly therefrom.

A bonnet 37 is formed, at its inner end, with an annular groove 38 which snugly receives the rib 35 to provide a liquid-sealing baffie between the elements 31 and 37. The upper end of the casing 10 is internally threaded, as at 39, to receive the bonnet; and a conventional gland 40 provides a seal around the stem 36 which projects outwardly beyond the bonnet when the parts are fully assembled. Suitable fittings 41 and 42 may be provided for introducing oil or grease into'the assembly, said fittings communicating with suitable conduits leading to points requiring lubrication.

It will be clear that the valve assembly comprising the stem element 29 and the head element 24 may be in- V troduced into the casing from opposite ends thereof, the stem 28 of the head element being started into the socket 33. Now, the plug 19 may be introduced into the lower end of the chamber and turned to its seated position, as illustrated, in which the passage 20 will register with the ports 14 and 15. By manipulation of the stem 36, the proper relation between the parts 24 and 29 will now be established, in which the head 25 is fully seated in its seat 21 and the flange 31 bears upon the upper surface of the projection 16. Now, the bonnet 37 will be slipped over the stem 36 and turned down, within the threads 39, until it bears smoothly upon the upper surface of the flange 31. Thereafter, the gland nut will be finally seated to press the gland 40 sealingly against the stem 36.

Now, when the stem 36 is turned in one direction, the engagement between the threads on the stem 28 and the threads in the cavity 33 will cause the head 25 "to rise, thus clearing the passage re a greater or less extent; and rotation of the stern 36 in the op osite direction will force the head into seated and sealing relation with its seat 21. v a

If desired, the floor of the cavity 22 may be provide with an annular rib 43 surrounding the Seat 23 and snugly received in a corresponding groove 44 formed in the lower surface of the enlargement 26, when the valve is seated.

InFig. 2, I have shown a fragment of a somewhat modified casing 10 formed to provide a chamber 11 in all respects similar to the chamber 11 and adapted to receive, for instance, the plug 19. A projection 16' defines a restriction 17 and is provided with a rib 18' in all respects similar to the elements 16, 17 and 18 of Fig. l. The stem 28 of the head element 24 is shown in cooperative relation with the portion 31) of the actuating element which includes a fiange 31' provided with a groove 32' snugly receiving the rib 18'. I In this form of the invention, the stem element includes a stub stem 36' and the bonnet 37' is not pierced for passage of such stem. Instead, the casing 10' is formed, near its upper end, with a radially-opening, peripherally-short slot 45. An auxiliary casing 46, having diverging cars 47 and 43, is arranged in spanning relationship to the slot 45 and is secured in place by screws 49 passing through the ears 47 and 48 and taking into tapped sockets in the casing 19'. The auxiliary casing 46 is formed to support a gear 50 mounted upon a. stem 51 journalled in the auxiliary casing 46. When the parts are assembled, the gear 58 will project through the slot 45 and into the casing 10'. v

The bonnet 37' is formed with an axial socket 52 in which is received a bushing 53 providing a journal support for the stub stem 36; and a pinion 54 is sleeved upon the stub stem 36 and held against rotation relative thereto, the gear 50 meshing with said pinion 54. 7

Obviously, rotation of the stem 51 will produce, in the'organization of Fig. 2, an action directly analogous to that produced 'by manipulation of the stem 36 in the organization of Fig. l. p

In Fig. 4, I have illustrated a modified form of plug, indicated generally by the reference numeral 55, analogous to, and adapted to be assembled in the casing 10 in the manner of, the plug 19 of Fig. 1. The externally-threaded body of the plug 55 is formed with a transaxial passage 56 analogous to the passage 20, said passage being interrupted by a wedge-shaped socket or valve seat 57 with which may cooperate a head 58 of corresponding shape, said head being provided with an externally-threaded stem 59 analogous to the stem 28 of Fig. 1. In this form of the invention, the opposite end portions of the passage 56 enter the seat 57 through plane, relatively inclined surfaces against which the opposite, and correspondingly inclined, faces of the head 58 will hear when said head is in fully seated condition. It will be clear that the type of valve illustrated in Fig. 1 can be replaced by the type of valve illustrated in Fig. 4 by merely removing the plug 19 and the head element 24 from the illustrated assembly and substituting the head element 58 and the plug 55. Thus, a gate-type compression valve is provided in place of the plug-type valve of Fig. 1 by the mere substitution of two parts.

, In Figs. 5 and 6, I have shown still further modified forms of my invention. The plug of Fig. 4 would be difficult and expensive to manufacture by reason of the "socket 57. This difiiculty is overcome in the form of Fig. 5, in which the casing 85 is formed with an inlet port 86 having a branch 87 (for a purpose which will appear), and an outlet port 88 aligned therewith. The plug 89 is formed with a cylindrical Socket 90 which may be formed by drilling or by casting and reaming; and said plug is further provided with aligned transverse bores 91 and 92 whose diameters substantially exceed the diameters of the casing ports. A seatforming sleeve 93 is seated in the bore 91, and projects into the socket 99 where it terminates in an inclined end 94 corresponding to the inclination of the adjacent face of the gate head 95 and acting as a seat therefor. A similar sleeve 96 seated in the bore 92 projects simi larly into the socket 90 to provide a scatter the opposite face of said head. While the sleeves 93 and 96 may be threaded into their respective bores, I prefer to press them home and weld them in place. ends, the said sleeves are flanged, as shown, the flanges preferably corresponding to the contour of the plug 89 and being countersunk into said plug, as shown.

The plug 89 is preferably provided, as shown, with a thin-walled projection 97 at its upper end provided with one or more longitudinal slots 98 in which will engage a corresponding number of ears 99 on the gate head 95, whereby the stem 100 is held against rotation with the actuator 101.

In Fig. 6, I have shown the casing 85 receiving a still further form 'of plug 102. In this form of the invention, the socket 103 is formed to provide an enlarged upper section 104 defining an upwardly-facing compression seat 105 for cooperation with a compression type valve head 1%; and said plug is further formed with an inlet bore 107 registering with the branch 87 of the casing inlet port and opening into the socket 103 beneath the seat 195. The plug is further formed with an outlet bore 108 registering with the casing of the port 88.

Again, the plug 102 is formed with a thin-walled up- Ward projection 109 provided with one or more longitudinally extending slots 11% in which will engage a corresponding number of cars 111 on the compression head 106, whereby the stem 112 is held against rotation with the actuator 113.

' I claim as my invention:

1. A valve assembly comprising a casing formed to provide a chamber opening through opposite ends of said casing and having an inlet port and an outlet port located in a common plane transaxial with respect to said chamber, said chamber being unobstructed between said ports, a radially-inward, annular projection located in said chamber between said common plane and one open end of said chamber, a plug removably received in said chamber, said plug closing the other open end of said chamber and having an integral cylindrical body extending into the chamber and being interposed, when said plug is received in said chamber, between said ports, said cylindrical body being formed with a transaxial passage registering, when said plug is so received, with said inlet and outlet ports, said cylindrical body further being formed to provide an axially extending socket intersecting said passage and opening toward said first named end of said chamber, a valve head movably received in said socket and having a portion extending toward said annular projection, said valve head when fully seated in said socket being interposed between the opposite ends of said transaxial passage, means for closing said first named chamber end, and means guided in said annular projection for shifting said valve head relative to said cylindrical body to control fluid flow through said ports and said passage, said socket providing a seat axially tapered toward said other chamber end and said valve 'he'ad being a coirespondingly tapered, imperforate element cooperable with said seat, said shifting means comprising an element coaxial with said chamber, plug and head, said shifting means being mounted adjacent said first named chamber end for rotation upon the axis of said chamber and guided At their outer' in said annular projection, and means restraining said element against movement axially relative to said casing, said element having a threaded engagement with said extending portion of said valve head, said valve head extending portion comprising a reduced, externallythreaded stem projecting toward said first-named chamber end and said shifting means element is an internallythreaded nut threadedly engaging said stem, and said annular projection comprises abutment means in said chamber supporting said nut against movement toward said other chamber end, said nut and said abutment means being provided with cooperating baifie means providing a liquid seal therebetween.

2. The valve assembly of claim 1 in which said bafiie means comprises an annular, axially-extending rib on that face of said projection adjacent said first-named chamber end, said nut snugly fitting the internal periphery of said projection and having a radial flange formed with an annular groove snugly receiving said rib.

3. A valve assembly comprising a casing formed to provide a chamber opening through opposite ends of said casing and having an inlet port and an outlet port located in a common plane transaxial with respect to said chamber, said chamber being unobstructed between said ports, a radially-inward, annular projection located in said chamber between said common plane and one open end of said chamber, a plug removably received in said chamber, said plug closing the other open end of said chamber and having an integral cylindrical body extending into the chamber and being interposed, when said plug is received in said chamber, between said ports, said cylindrical body being formed with a transaxial passage registering, when said plug is so received, with said inlet and outlet ports, said cylindrical body further being formed to provide an axially extending socket intersecting said passage and opening toward said first named end of said chamber, a valve head movably received in said socket and having a portion extending toward said annular projection, said valve head when fully seated in said socket being interposed between the opposite ends of said transaxial passage, means for closing said first named chamber end, and

means guided in said annular projection for shifting said valve head relative to said cylindrical body to control fluid flow through said ports and said passage, said socket providing a seat axially tapered toward said other chamber end and said valve head being a correspondingly-tapered, imperforate element, cooperable with said seat, said valve head extending portion comprising a reduced, externally-threaded stem, said shifting means comprising an internally-threaded nut coaxial with said chamber, plug and head, said shifting means being mounted adjacent said first-named chamber end for rotation upon the axis of said chamber, said nut threadedly engaging said stem, said annular projection supporting said not against movement toward said other chamber end, said nut and projection being provided with cooperating baflie means providing a liquid seal therebetween, a boimet secured to said casing and closing said first-named end of said chamber, and an operating stem fixed to said nut and projecting through said bonnet for access from outside said casing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 269,111 Reimann Dec. 12, 1882 423,755 Giles Mar. 18,. 1890 600,944 Burdett Mar. 22, 1898 702,342 Clough June 10, 1902 713,851 Cash Nov. 18, 1902 820,846 Bate May 15, 1906 920,187 Schreidt May 4, 1909 1,066,240 Artz July 1, 1913 1,172,474 Madigan Feb. 22, 1916 1,270,049 Murray June 18, 1918 1,341,146 Murray May 25, 1920 1,552,710 Knudsen Sept. 8, 1925 1,717,392 Lofton June 18, 1929 1,790,384 Lincoln Fan. 27, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS 168,960 Great Britain of 1921 

